Mine escape tunnel



Dec. 24, 1957 Filed Feb. 21. 1957 Fig./

W. M. INMAN MINE ESCAPE TUNNEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 24? 1957 w, M INMAN 2,817,505

- MINE ESCAPE TUNNEL Filed Feb. 21, 1957 2 sheen-sheet 2 Z/QL o v Wil/iam M. Inman y INVENTOR.

United rates This invention relates to an escape tunnel for mines and has for its primary object the provision of a shelter for miners and other workmen whereby loss of life due to a mine disaster will be reduced or eliminated.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a mine escape tunnel which is sealed by fluidproof and llame-proof faced doors which are substantially explosion proof so as to safeguard the lives of the occupants of these shelters during mine disasters, such as res, explosions or cave-ins.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of means for supplying air and water to trapped miners and other workmen in an escape tunnel so as to maintain life during rescue operations.

The construction of this invention features mine escape tunnels which are connected to the various shafts of a mine and arranged so as to prevent unnecessary loss of life. Incorporated in the mine escape tunnels are chambers whose bottom extend below the level of the bottom of the passageways connecting the mine tunnels to the shafts. This feature provides means for substantially shielding the miners from any blast resulting from explosions. One of the particular features lies in the novel arrangement whereby the steps leading from the passageway to the chamber are integrally formed as part of the reinforced concrete liner of the chamber and the passageway.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this mine escape tunnel, preferred arrangements of the invention being shown in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of a portion of a mine employing the concepts of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional detail view of a portion of a mine extending transverse to a mine shaft and illustrating the arrangement of the door within the passageway connecting the tunnel to the mine shaft;

Figure 3 is a partial sectional detail view illustrating the construction of the chamber connected to the passageway and illustrating the arrangement of the door between the chamber and the passageway;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view of a portion of a mine illustrating the construction of a door for the passageway in the mine escape tunnel;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 55 of Figure 2, further illustrating the construction of the door and door frame.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral generally designates the upwardly extending main shaft of a mine having a plurality of passageways as at 12, 14, 16, and 18 connected thereto which may be used in the conventional manner for mining. It is concept of the present invention to provide various mine escape tunnels atent C for use in conjunction with the various shafts so as to protect miners and other workmen and prevent undue loss of life during cave-ins, lires, explosions, or other catastrophes or disasters by providing shelter for the workmen and miners. One form of such mine safety tunnel is indicated generally by reference numeral 20 and consists of a passageway 22 and a chamber 24 connected to the passageway. As can be best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the passageway 22 is lined with reinforced concrete as at 26 and the chamber is also lined with reinforced concrete as at 28 and may be of any suitable configuration. The bottom inner surface 30 of the chamber is below the level of the shaft 16 or the level of the passageway 22 and integrally formed with the lining 26 and 28 is a stairway 32. The stairs and the well formed by the depressed lower surface 30 provide a shield against blasts and shock waves from blasts for the miners in the delta formed by the chamber 24.

A door frame 34 is embedded in the lining 26 and a substantially fluid-proof and tire-proof and substantially explosion proof door 36 provided with a suitable easily actuated latching device as at 38 is provided. An automatically actuated lamp 40 excited when the door is closed may be mounted in the door to provide illumination for the shaft and an indication of the location of the door 36 should there be a loss of power and thus illumination in the mine due to some catastrophe. Further, the lamp 40 will provide a guide to rescuers as to the location of the mine escape tunnel.

Another door 46 is mounted on a door frame 48 also embedded in the lining 26. Conduits 50 and 52 carrying air and water to the compartment 24 are provided and valves for controlling flow therefrom are :suitably provided as at 54 and 56. The conduits 50 and 52 pass through suitable sealed openings in the frame 36 and in the frame 48.

ln those areas where there are two spaced jpassageways, passageways as at and 82 may communicate to a single chamber 84 and steps 86 and 88 are provided. Doors 90, 92 are provided for the passageway 80 to the chamber 84 while doors 94 and 96 are provided for the passageway 84 it being noted that the doors 90 and 92 are mounted on frames and 162 while the doors 94 and 96 are mounted on frames 104 and 106. As can be best seen in Figure 4, the frame 100 is imperforate due to the fact that the conduits 50 and 52 communicate with the chamber S4 through the passageway 82. Other suitable arrangements may of course be provided.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative` only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:'

A mine escape tunnel for a mine connected to a mine passageway comprising an escape passageway in said mine communicating with said mine passageway, a chamber connected to said escape passageway, the bottom of said chamber extending below the levels of the bottom of said mine passageway and said escape passageway, a fluid tight door at the opening of said tunnel between said mine passageway and said escape passageway, a fluid tight door in said tunnel for closing said chamber from. said escape passageway, said tunnel including said escape passage` way and said chamber having a lining of reinforced concrete, said lining including a stairway integral therewith leading from said escape passageway and in said chamber, door frames embedded in said lining, said doors being E, mounted on said door frames, uid conduits extending 1,456,808 from sai-3:1 v'minepassageway to `said chamber for carrying 2,704,983 air 'and water to said chamber, said conduits extending through said [door frames.

References Cited inthe le of this vpatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 982,095 lScheiler- Jan. 17, 1911 VLowe May 29, 1923 Van Dronkelaar Mar. 29, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Apr. 1, 1955 

